Horses galloping onwards after their racing careers end
They played their part in showcasing how Irish-bred or trained racehorses can make useful and suitable riding horses — which is the thinking behind the racehorse to riding horse classes now seen at many top horse shows.
Sponsored by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, the racehorse to riding horse class in Dublin was judged by noted Tipperary horseman Tim Hyde and British jumps jockey Harry Skelton, and it was a big crowd puller at Ballsbridge.
Skelton, whose father Nick helped Britain win the Aga Khan Nations Cup the previous day, and Hyde, one of the most knowledge people in the Irish horse industry, were on the lookout for traits such as quality, substance, bone, correct conformation, presence and action — and they were not disappointed.
Chosen for the red rosette first prize was Cooldine, formerly trained by Willie Mullins, which had won a similar racehorse to riding horse class at the Balmoral Show in Belfast earlier in the year.
The 11-year-old Beneficial bay gelding was bred by Eleanor Hadden, Coolruss, Co Wicklow, and was shown and ridden at Ballsbridge by owner Joanne Quirke, Balbriggan, Co Dublin.
A winner of five hurdle races and three chases on the track, Cooldine had to overcome strong competition. Another bay gelding, Where Now, a 17-year-old by Cataldi, took the second-place rosette for owner John Queally, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, and rider Lois Chappell. All but two of Where Now’s 16 race wins were in point to points.
Third prize went to 12-year-old Jigalo, owned and ridden by Kate McGivern, Ballivor, Co Meath (Jigalo’s six race wins included two on the flat).
Aintree Grand National winner Silver Birch, owned by Brian Walsh, Maynooth, Co Kildare, was fourth, under top point-to-point rider Annie Bowles.
Fifth place was 13-year-old bay gelding Mossbank (six wins over the jumps) from Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud, with Chloe Thompson on board.
Elaine Hatton, general manager of Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, said the company was delighted to be associated with the class, and it reflected ITM’s belief that the Irish thoroughbred is the most versatile, tough, and talented animal.
“It is testament to the husbandry skills here in Ireland that we will get the chance to see such great racehorses in such wonderful condition,” she said.
The appearance of other top racehorses in the show ring brought back many memories for horse racing fans.
There was the popular 12-year-old Big Zeb, owned by Paddy Redmond, and the winner of two hurdles and 11 chases, six of them at Grade 1 level. Barry Geraghty partnered Big Zeb on most of his racetrack outings, but at the RDS it was the turn of Rosemary Connors, Woodstown, Co Waterford.
Big Zeb was trained in Co Wexford by Colm Murphy, who also had charge of Brave Inca, winner of the racehorse to riding horse class at the RDS in 2009 and again in 2011.
Those wins were separated by Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War of Attrition, who won at the RDS in 2010 for Gigginstown Stud.
Beef or Salmon, Moscow Flyer, Kicking King, and Hardy Eustace are some of the other celebrated racehorses who have competed in recent years at Ballsbridge, having made the transition from the racetrack.
Hardy Eustace and Moscow Flyer became equine ambassadors of the Irish Horse Welfare Trust (IHWT), which was formed in 1999. It rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes abandoned, neglected, and/or ill-treated horses, funded almost entirely through public donations.
Hardy Eustace, which was owned by Lar Byrne and trained by Dessie Hughes, is best known for winning the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2004 and 2005.
The bay gelding, retired from racing in Jan 2010, won 14 of his 17 lifetime starts including seven Grade 1 starts, and netted over €1.2m in racecourse prize money.
Owner Lar Byrne generously donated Hardy Eustace, one of the most loved hurdlers of the modern era, to the IHWT Equine Centre in Woodenbridge, Co Wicklow.
The horse is still an IHWT equine ambassador, promotes the work of the IHWT, and allows supporters of the racing industry the opportunity to meet an equine legend of Irish racing.
Moscow Flyer, another celebrated equine ambassador, spent seven years in active retirement at the Horse Welfare Trust Centre, before taking up residence at the Irish National Stud in Tully, Co Kildare.
A winner of 27 races including the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2003 and 2005 and the Arkle Challenge Trophy in 2002, he had racecourse earnings of €1.4m.
IHWT chairwoman Jane Mysercough says on the Trust’s website that Moscow Flyer became an integral part of its charities team.
“The horse made many public appearances as our equine ambassador, over the years, championing our call for improved equine welfare in Ireland,” she said.
Moscow Flyer, she added, embodies the bold and brave spirit of the IHWT, which was delighted when the Flyer took up residence at the world renowned Irish National Stud.
There, the handsome bay gelding will continue to fly the flag as an ambassador for the IHWT, which the Stud fully supports.
He was trained by Jessica Harrington, and Barry Geraghty was his jockey for almost all his successes.
“Moscow Flyer can be visited at the National Stud, and we would encourage everybody to go and pay this wonderful equine a much deserved visit,” Ms Mysercough said.
The IHWT has also initiated, for the first time in this country, a programme for retraining ex-racehorses. Hundreds of horses leave racing each year, and many of them could be reschooled for other disciplines.
The IHWT programme aims to direct some of these horses to new careers in new homes, living out a useful life.
Ex-racehorses are given over by owners or trainers for the programme, which is part-funded and supported by Horse Racing Ireland’ and the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association.
It takes at least six months to retrain and reschool an ex-racehorse, and longer for some, depending on the individual.
Racehorses come out of a highly stressful career, and it takes time for them to settle into a new type of work.
The IHWT says most horses adapt happily, given the chance, and can go on to disciplines such as hacking, dressage or show jumping.
* Irish Horse Welfare: www.ihwt.ie Email: info@ihwt.ie
* Irish Shows Association: www.irishshows.org
